Portal to the Shadowfell

[Vauln]

This is my first real try at a terrain piece, I was asked by my DM to make a portal that would be used as a Portal to the Shadowfell in our D&D campaign. I balked at first, but he assured me it would be a recurring feature. He gave me the dimensions, 6" by 6", and basically what it should look like, a stone archway, and gave me artistic licence. The materials are 2" pink insulation foam, foam core, Woodland Senics, water effects and glue, paint, flock, etc. I used a hobby knife to cut the foam, I think I should have gone for a hot wire as it would have been easier and made a cleaner cut.





I had slight problem with the water effects warping the paper below, not a major issue, but I will keep this in mind if I ever do anything like this again. If I do anything like this again I would like to paint a simple scene on each side of the portal before I put down the water effect. The gray and black mottled look turned out okay, but not great. Hope you like it, criticism is welcome.

Paul

[Doomsdave]

Well done.  Especially for your first.  I'd love to include this in my D&D campaign. 


Careful.  Terrain building is addictive.

[Vauln]

Thank you.

[dijit]

Nice work!

Careful.  Terrain building is addictive.

Quoted for truth

[Paul]

Looks good. I reckon using a hot wire to cut it would have made the cuts too clean and not given such a good rock effect.

[doctor_ocks]

You did a great job.

My only recommendation for future builds, would be to base it on hardboard to avoid warping. Also, you can use crystal clear silicone caulking ($3-$7 a tube) instead of the water effects for any kind of liquid/dreamy effect. Much cheaper and easier to work with, IMO.

Here's a couple of pieces that I used caulking on in stead of water effects.

[Vauln]

Good to know, thanks.

[southheaven]

As Paul said, a hot wire would have ruined the rough rocky surface effect. I like your portal as it is and it reminds me, to finally start making some portals of my own. So thanks for the inspiration and keep on building. Your portal looks promising for your future terrain pieces.

[DeafNala]

That really is a SPLENDID piece. Taking into account that it was a first makes it OUTSTANDING!
What's next?

[Vauln]

Thank you all, to kind. I am currently writing a Delve for my group, I figure I should give my DM a night off. The idea is that the party will go to a town that has been having some trouble, find a inevitable adventure waiting for them in the form of Cultists of Tharizdun. The setting is the Town, Quarry, and Ruined Temple of Tharizdun. I have a few ideas bouncing around in my head, just need to get something started. I will be sure to keep you all informed.

[Vauln]

I have been working on this Nether Beast from RBG...
I have some touch-up work to do and then the base.



I think he will make a good denizen of the Shadowfell.

[eilif]

Very nice job. Looks worlds better than my early terrain pieces and if you hadn't told us I never would have guessed that it was your first.

I second the suggestion to switch to hardboard for the bases.  As well as being much sturdier, hardboard cuts easily, is cheap, and the edges can be rounded off nicely so you won't get the obvious edge of foamcore.  You can get a 4x8 sheet at Home Depot.

That's only a minor quibble though. A bit of buckling in the subfloor might well be inevitable when positioned next to an inter-dimensional portal.  Those are stresses that building codes just don't take into account.